High-level format

Method of formatting a hard drive that initializes portions of the hard drive and creates important file system areas on the disk. A good example of a high-level format is using the format command in MS-DOS.

A high-level format is commonly done if a user wishes to erase the hard drive and reinstall the operating system back onto the hard drive. If errors are present on the hard drive, or a high-level format is unable to be completed, a low-level format may need to be done first.